Toast vs Square
Last updated July 2026
Toast
The all-in-one restaurant platform
Advantages
- Purpose-built for restaurants with deep industry-specific features
- Kitchen display system (KDS) and real-time order tracking
- Integrated online ordering, delivery, and takeout management
- Robust menu management with modifiers, combos, and scheduling
- Restaurant-grade hardware designed for kitchen environments
Drawbacks
- Hardware is proprietary, must use Toast terminals
- 2-year contract required on most plans
- Payment processing is locked to Toast Payments, no third-party processors
- Costs escalate quickly with add-on modules
Square for Restaurants
The POS that does it all
Advantages
- Free plan available with no monthly software fees
- No long-term contracts, month-to-month flexibility
- Works on iPads and Square hardware, more flexibility
- Strong ecosystem across retail, services, and restaurants
- Square Online included for takeout and delivery
Drawbacks
- Restaurant-specific features are less deep than Toast's
- Kitchen display features require the Plus plan ($60/mo)
- Processing rates are slightly higher than Toast's in-person rate
- Hardware isn't designed for harsh kitchen environments like Toast's
Toast was built from the ground up for restaurants, while Square started in general retail and expanded into food service. Both process payments and manage orders, but Toast goes deeper on restaurant-specific features like kitchen display systems and menu management. The trade-off is complexity and cost.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Toast | Square for Restaurants |
|---|---|---|
| Software Pricing | $0/mo (Starter) to $69+/mo (Growth plans) | $0/mo (Free) or $60/mo (Plus) |
| Payment Processing Rate | 2.49% + $0.15 (card present); higher for online | 2.6% + $0.10 (card present); 2.9% + $0.30 online |
| Hardware Options | Proprietary Android terminals, KDS, kiosks | iPad-based + Square Terminal, Stand, Register |
| Menu Management | Advanced, modifiers, scheduling, combos, coursing | Good, modifiers, categories, item photos |
| Online Ordering | Built-in with Toast Online Ordering | Square Online included |
| Reporting & Analytics | Real-time sales, labor, and menu analytics | Sales, labor, menu mix analytics |
| Integrations | DoorDash, Uber Eats, plus Toast ecosystem | Caviar, DoorDash, plus 300+ Square App Marketplace |
| Contract Requirements | 2-year commitment required on most plans | No contract, month-to-month |
Toast Wins
Toast wins for serious restaurants because its purpose-built features, kitchen hardware, and restaurant-specific tools are significantly deeper than Square's general approach.
If you're running a full-service restaurant with a kitchen line, table management, coursing, and delivery, Toast's restaurant-native platform delivers features Square can't match. The KDS alone is a game-changer for kitchen efficiency. But Toast's 2-year contracts and proprietary hardware lock-in are real drawbacks. Square is the better choice for food trucks, small cafes, counter-service spots, and anyone who doesn't want a long-term commitment. Square's free plan is genuinely free and works well for simple operations. For a restaurant with more than 10 employees or table service, Toast's depth is worth the commitment.
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